NAPLES, FL — Last week, the Cotton Warehouse Association of America (CWAA) convened here for its 86th annual meeting.  The CWAA is a national trade association representing cotton warehouse operators from the Carolinas to California with membership including independent, gin, merchant, and transit warehouses.

Jamison Cruce, USA Rice senior director of government affairs, participated in this year’s meeting to offer U.S. rice industry priorities and outlook as Congress works to write the next Farm Bill.  He also emphasized the importance of coordinated political advocacy by the agriculture industry.  Cruce was on the agenda along with representatives from the Crop Insurance Professionals Association, National Cotton Council of America, and the Plains Cotton Growers.

“It’s vitally important that USA Rice continue engaging with other agriculture organizations throughout the Farm Bill process to discuss how our priorities align and where we can best work together toward farm legislation that’s beneficial for production agriculture,” said Cruce.  “The rice and cotton industries have long worked in tandem to support policies that benefit their growers and processors, and this year is no different.”

Other speakers included Pro Farmer’s Jim Weisemeyer; David Wasserman with the Cook Political Report with Amy Walters; Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), vice chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and chair of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit; as well as officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service and Farm Service Agency.

“I want to thank CWAA for the opportunity to visit with their members and offer our perspectives,” said Cruce.  “We look forward to continuing much good work on the Farm Bill and beyond.”

Published Date: June 13, 2023